The High Divide Trail starts two miles above Soleduc Hot Springs, elevation
1,900’. This is an extremely popular hike, and permits and camping spots
must be secured from the National Park Service in Port Angeles.

At one mile is the gorge of Soleduc Falls. This is also the junction of
the Heart Lake Trail and site of one of the few remaining shelters that used
to be a common sight in the Olympic National Forrest.

The trail ascends gently through old growth to Deer Lake, and then opens
up to sub-alpine forests and beautiful meadows of blueberry patches. Above
Deer Lake we saw a Black Bear browsing on the blueberries above the trail.
We had fun watching him work his way through the berry patch. Doerte and I
gave him plenty of room since we were never sure which way he was going. A
short distance farther on we saw a second Black Bear, also working his way
through the berry patch. Both bears were jet black, and had thick shiny
winter coats on. They looked very healthy.

The Trail finally gains the ridgetop and begins the High Divide. The
views are absolutely spectacular in all directions. Soon, a junction takes
hikers into the Seven Lakes Basin. Beautiful tarns surrounded by lush alpine
meadows. We met several folks who were doing the loop as a dayhike and other
that were spending 4-5 days.

We stopped on the summit of Bogachiel Peak, 5,474’ and marveled at the
view of Mount Olympus and the Blue Glacier across the Hoh Valley, almost
5,000’ below. This is the classic view of Mount Olympus. There is a poster
in the Washington Alpine Club Cabin dining room that shows this fantastic
view. We had fun retracing our route up Mount Olympus from the year before.

Mount Olympus from the summit of Bogachiel Peak, 5,474’

This is the classic view of Mount Olympus. The Blue
Glacier is easily seen.

We descended 1,000’ and a little over 1.5 miles to camp at Hoh Lake. One
of the parties already there later told us that as I walked to our campsite
a bear was also walking to the campsite from the other direction! Luckily, I
got there first and the bear went to find some blueberries. I never even saw
him! The view from camp was fantastic, our campsite looked at Hoh Lake one
way, and the Hoh River and Mount Olympus the other way.

Almost everywhere in the Olympics hikers are required to hang their food
on the Bear Wires or use the secure but heavy bear canisters. We kept the
camp very clean. Nearby was a honeybee hive in a hollow tree. Reportedly,
there are no native wild honeybees in North America, only escaped domestic
bees brought over from Europe or Africa. In any event this was the first we
have ever seen in the wild.

Bill Hooper reported that he and Judy were passed by a large herd of Elk
on the trail above the lake. Doerte and I didn’t see any on this trip
although we saw signs of Elk. As the day grew later we watched the clouds
move in from the Pacific Ocean and gradually fill up the Hoh River Valley.
There were showers overnight, but the weather cleared in the morning.

Over the High Divide and down to Hoh Lake
in the middle of a berry patch. The fish were jumping but not biting.

Starting early, Doerte and I continued on the High Divide, eating
blueberries and watching for bears, we enjoyed the views of Seven Lakes
Basin below us. Finally, we recognized Heart Lake by it’s distinctive shape.
As we started our descent to Heart Lake we passed the junction of the Cat
Peak Trail and the start of the Bailey Range Traverse. This amazing off
trail traverse would take a strong fast party almost a week to complete and
summit many peaks. The route was first traveled by Billy Everett, in 1885,
at the age of 16 years!

Doerte is heading to Heart Lake at the
end of the High Divide Trail. The branch to the right is the Trail to
Cat Peak.

From Heart Lake in heather and blueberry meadows, the trail descends to
Sol Duc Park in groves of Hemlock and Silver Firs. After the Appleton Pass
junction the trail flattens for four miles back to the Shelter and the main
trail from Sol Duc Falls.

One of the most scenic trips ever! 21 Miles and 5.000’ gain over two
days.